Looking for an all-in-one ayurvedic solution for heart disease, liver ailments, and digestive issues? Triphala is the perfect remedy for you! It is an herbal remedy that has been used for decades to treat all of these diseases, all while boosting immunity, detoxifying your body, and having various other benefits. It is known as “Tridoshic rasayana” in Ayurveda, which is known to balance all the three doshas or energies in your body. These benefits are not just mentioned in Ayurveda but are also backed by scientific research.
Discover your Prakariti/Doshas here.
What is Triphala?
Triphala is a Sanskrit word that translates to “three fruits”. It is a potent blend made from three dried fruits, i.e., Amalaki (Emblica Officinalis) or Indian gooseberry, Bibhitaki (Terminalia Billerica), and Haritaki (chebula). You can make Triphala powder at home by following the simple recipe Terminalia mentioned below, or you can take capsules easily available in the market. This unique formulation has been used for decades for the treatment of various diseases like cancer, liver problems, inflammation, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.
Triphala is packed with various anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties that not only treat these ailments but also improve your overall health, including oral care, skin health, etc. This Triphala All-in-one guide contains everything you need to know about Triphala, including the potential risks, dosage, and how to consume Triphala powder.
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Triphala ingredients
The word Triphala means ‘three fruits, ’ and the blend of these three fruits together is much more effective than when consumed individually. The three ingredients used for making Triphala are packed with various vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants, the synergistic action of which is believed to be responsible for Triphala’s broad spectrum of health benefits.
Amalaki
Amla, commonly known as Indian gooseberry, is rich in Vitamin C, minerals, and amino acids. It contains various anti-oxidants like tannins, phenols, rutin, phyllembleic acid, emblicol, and curcuminoids. Amalaki has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for hundreds of years and holds a significant place in Ayurveda. It is a small or medium-sized fruit with a sharp, sour taste and a fibrous texture.
Amla is used in a wide variety of treatments, ranging from cancer to inflammation. It is a very powerful ingredient in itself, but when mixed with Bibhitaki and Haritaki, its properties get enhanced, and it acts as an herbal Ayurvedic remedy providing relief from numerous problems.
Bibhitaki
Bibhitaki, another key component of Triphala, is packed with lignans, tannin, and flavone, which promote liver function and help in our body’s natural detoxification. It also contains Ellagic acid and Gallic acid, which are potent antioxidants, have potential anti-cancerous properties, and help regulate blood sugar levels in our body. Historically, it has been used in the treatment of Diabetes, Anorexia, Vomiting, Piles, diarrhea, and Arthritis.
Haritaki
The third essential ingredient of Triphala is Haritaki, which is rich in Vitamin C, minerals like Copper, Iron, Magnesium, and Potassium, and antioxidants like Polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and terpenes. It is basically a medicinal tree that grows in India and has a small, green colored fruit known as Haritaki. It is also called the “king of medicines” in Ayurveda and is hence used in the treatment of various conditions like asthma, ulcers, heart diseases, and other stomach ailments.
How to make Triphala powder at home?
You can easily make the Triphala powder at home by following these 4 simple steps:
Step 1: Take fresh Amla, Bibhitaki, and Haritaki and wash them properly to remove any dust or impurities. Now, let these three fruits get completely dry in the sunlight. This process might take 2-3 days, but make sure they’re completely dry before proceeding to the next step.
Step 2: Grind these three dried fruits individually in a mixer grinder one by one and make a fine powder out of them.
Step 3: Mix these powders in the proper ratio to ensure the potency of the mixture. Ayurveda suggests using the three fruits, i.e., Haritaki, Bibhitaki, and Amla, in a 1:2:4 ratio, respectively. If you’re taking 20 grams of Haritaki, then add 40 grams of Bibhitaki and 80 grams of Amla to it. Make sure you measure the individual powders correctly and mix them together.
Step 4: Store this mixture in an airtight container, preferably glass or steel. Keep the mixture away from direct sunlight and moisture.
This homemade Triphala churna or Triphala powder is organic and cost-effective. If you store it properly, it can be used for 6-12 months without the need to prepare it every month.
Nutrition information in Triphala
If you consume one teaspoon of Triphala powder, it consists of:
Carbohydrates: 3 grams
Fiber: 1 gram
Calories: 10 grams
Fat: 0 grams
Sugar: 0 grams
Protein: 0 grams
How to Consume Triphala Powder (Churna)?
The traditional way of consuming Triphala is by making a powered blend of the three fruits using the method mentioned above and consuming this powder on an empty stomach either in the morning or before going to bed. Take one teaspoon of your homemade Triphala powder with a glass of lukewarm water in the morning after you wake up. If you don’t like the taste of it, then try adding a teaspoon of honey to it.
The alternative way of consuming Triphala powder is in between meals. Take one teaspoon of Triphala powder with a glass of lukewarm water a few minutes before having any meal. Make sure you’re only taking it once a day and not overconsuming it.
If you’re looking for a more convenient way of taking Triphala without the hassle of preparing the powder at home, you can look for Triphala capsules and consume them in the same way you would take Triphala powder.
Triphala Dosage
You should take ½ to 1 teaspoon of Triphala powder every day, i.e., 500-1 milligrams, as per Ayurveda. Some diseases and health conditions might require a higher dosage of Triphala, but it is always better to consult with an Ayurvedic professional or doctor before increasing the dosage.
Health Benefits of Triphala
Triphala is being used in various countries all over the world in the treatment of various diseases and in improving overall health. It is used in the treatment of a lot of chronic diseases like cancer, liver ailments, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
Improves digestive health
Triphala is most renowned for its various benefits on gastrointestinal health. It is rich in antioxidants and thus helps in preventing stomach problems like diarrhea, constipation, hyperacidity, abdominal pain, and flatulence. Not just that, it also improves the frequency of bowel movements, balances gut flora, and frequency of glutathione (a key antioxidant). Triphala also acts as a prebiotic, which means it promotes the growth of good bacteria in the gut and prevents digestive infections and disorders. It is a healthier alternative to over-the-counter medicines that create dependency and works on relieving the symptoms rather than the problem itself.
Cancer Treatment
Triphala aids in fighting cancer, especially pancreatic, stomach, colon, or prostate cancer, by protecting the healthy cells in your body from being affected and making the cancerous cells more sensitive to medications. Some lab studies and animal research have shown that Triphala has anti-cancerous properties as it seems to stop cancer cells from growing further and can even kill them. This is because Triphala is packed with antioxidants and also contains Chebulinic acid, which blocks the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to survive. It might not cure your cancer completely, but it can definitely aid in the treatment of it.
Supports Heart Health
Triphala helps improve heart health by reducing the cholesterol levels in your body, particularly LDL or bad cholesterol, reducing inflammation, improving blood circulation in the body, preventing the buildup of plaque in arteries, and maintaining blood pressure levels.
This is like an all-in-one solution to keeping your heart healthy.
Skin Care
Triphala benefits are not just limited to chronic diseases of organs but also for your skin. Triphala is rich in various antioxidants and vitamin C. It helps in rebuilding skin proteins, retaining moisture, and increase collagen production, which helps in reducing wrinkles and replacing dead skin cells. Along with this, it protects the epidermis and dermal fibroblasts, which helps in the recovery of injury, restoring the levels of glutathione and dealing with severe acne or eczema.
Detoxification
Triphala is packed with various anti-oxidants like Vitamin C, Flavonoids, Tannins, polyphenols, and saponins, along with other anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It improves digestion and bowel movement, which helps eliminate the toxins from our body, and also promotes liver function, which plays a key role in removing toxins, thus detoxifying the body, reducing oxidative stress, and improving overall health.
Boosts Immunity
Since Triphala is rich in Vitamin C, particularly because it contains Amalaki, it should not come as a surprise that it helps boost your immunity. It is also known to increase the levels of Immunoglobulin M (IgM) in our body, which is an important antibody and hence reduces the risk of various infections and diseases. Along with this, Triphala also enhances the function of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell that helps fight infection) and our body’s ability to fight pathogens and maintain overall health.
Reduces Inflammation
Triphala contains various antioxidants like Flavonoids, saponins, polyphenols, and Vitamin C, which helps in neutralizing free radicals, preventing them from causing any damage that might trigger inflammation in our body. Inflammation often starts in the stomach, and Triphala improves digestive health, thus reducing the risk of inflammation and, hence, supporting heart health.
Liver ailments
One of the key ingredients in Triphala is Bibhitaki, which is specifically known for its ability to support liver function and detoxification. Triphala is also known to remove Bile from the Liver, which is crucial for the removal of toxins from our body, thus supporting liver function.
Weight loss
Among other benefits, Triphala also helps in managing weight by improving metabolism and improving digestion. If you start taking Triphala powder/ churna every single day as prescribed above, then you’ll start seeing noticeable results, given that you maintain a properly balanced lifestyle along with it, i.e., exercising daily and eating a balanced diet.
Regulating blood sugar levels
A key ingredient in Triphala is Amalaki or Indian gooseberry, which is rich in antioxidants like Vitamin C that improves our body’s sensitivity to insulin (a hormone that helps glucose move from the bloodstream to cells for energy).
Improved insulin sensitivity equals better blood sugar control in our body. Not only this, Triphala also restrains the activity of certain enzymes like alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase. These enzymes break down complex carbohydrates into simple sugars in the digestive tract. When this process is slowed down, the chances of glucose spikes in our body reduces.
Enhances vision
Triphala is packed with anti-oxidants which reduces oxidative stress in our body, protecting the delicate structure of our eyes i.e. lens, retina and optic nerve from eye diseases like cataract and macular degeneration. If you consume Triphala ocular enhancing and anti-inflammatory properties prevents severe eye problems like cataracts, glaucoma, or inflammation in the eyes. Since Triphala is known to improve blood circulation in the body, it ensures necessary nutrients and oxygen reach the eye and supports the health of blood vessels in the eye.
Improves hair quality
Antioxidants in Triphala protect your hair follicles and prevent hair thinning, breakage, or premature graying. Its anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties help get rid of dandruff on the scalp and promote hair growth. If you don’t want to consume Triphala directly, you can also make a thick paste and apply it to your scalp to get a squeaky-clean scalp. The presence of Tannins in Triphala helps darken the hair color, thus preventing premature graying.
Dental Health
The health benefits of Triphala are not restricted to body organs only. Tripala has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties that prevent the formation of dental plaque, the primary cause of cavities and gum disease. Triphala is a natural alternative to other harsh chemicals for reducing plaque buildup, gum inflammation, or growth of bacteria in the mouth. So the next time you order toothpaste, look for Triphala in the ingredients list.
Potent Risks of Triphala/ Potential Side Effects
Although the recommended dose of Triphala is safe for you and your family, it is important to know its potential side effects. Triphala is a great herbal medicine in Ayurveda, but it is better to take precautions and keep an eye out for any side effects. Also, it is best if you start with a lower dose and see how your body reacts to it before continuing its usage.
Some of the potential side effects are digestive discomforts like gas, abdominal pain, indigestion, cramps, or bloating. This is usually because you’re taking a higher dose of Triphala than recommended. Triphala has laxative properties, which means it can loosen bowel movements. This is why it is great for constipation but can also lead to diarrhea in some people, which can potentially lead to dehydration. If you notice any such side effects, then consult an Ayurvedic specialist or doctor and continue with the prescribed doses.
If you’re someone who’s pregnant or breastfeeding, then you should avoid consuming Triphala, mainly because it contains Haritaki. The main reason is unknown, but it is better to avoid Triphala if you’re expecting because there isn’t enough safety data available.
Also, if you’re taking any blood pressure, diabetes, or blood-thinning medications, consult with a doctor before you start taking Triphala since it can interfere with how your body responds to those medicines. For example, if you normally have high blood pressure and are taking medicine for the same, Triphala can lower the blood pressure more than required, causing a potential risk of very low bp.
